Fluid mixing apparatus



Feb. 26, 1935. s. THURSTENSEN 1,992,451

FLUID MIXING APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l jxl.

Feb. 26, 1935. s. THURSTENSEN 9 9 I FLUID MIXING APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet '2 Feb. 25, 1935. S ,THURSTENSEN 1,992,451

FLUID MIXING APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 26, 1935 FLUID MIXENG APPARATUS S oren Thurstensen, Louisville, Ky.

Application March 26, 1

934, Serial No. 717,361

5 Claims. (o1.210-2s) This invention relates to fluid mixing apparatus for mixing a plurality of fluids in general and more particularly to water purifying apparatus of the type wherein air-and water are mixed and the air subsequently separated from the water to produce beneficial chemical and .mechanical changes in the water.

In the use of such apparatus it has been necessary to provide for a difference in head between the water to be aerated and the discharge basin or to pump the water up to the intake of the aeration apparatus.

The primary object of this invention is accordingly to provide an apparatus of the above type wherein no such difierence in head is necessary and where the water to be aerated need not be pumped to a higher level than that of the discharge basin.

' Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of this type wherein the amount of agitation of air and water and consequent action of air upon the water is positively augmented. I

A further object of this invention is to provide such an apparatus the parts of which are accessible for inspection, renewal or repair.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent as the same becomes better understood from an examination of the specification and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, and partly fragmentary showing the assembled apparatus embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figs. 3 and 3a are vertical fragmentary sectional views of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings more particularly reference character 1 designates generally an aerator head of the aspirator type wherein water 2 in the inlet chamber 3 of a waterworks plant is adapted to be mixed with air, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The chamber 3 is formed by a tank-4 open at its upper end and provided with flanges 5 and 6 welded thereto and attached to supporting channels 7 and 8 respectively extendingacross the top of a basin 9. These channels '7 and 8 support thereacross a pair of spaced flanged bars 11 and 12 for centrally supporting a vertically disposed electric motor 13 above the tank 4, the housing of which motor is bolted to said bars.

The shaft 14 of motor 13 is attached to an impeller shaft 15 by means of a coupling 16. The lower section of coupling 16 holds the inner race of a ball'bearing unit 1'7 against a shoulder on shaft 15, the outer race being clamped between annular members 18 and 19 which form a supporting housing for said bearing, take up the longitudinal thrust and which are supported by angle bars 21-. and 22 extending across the tank and centrally attached to transverse angle bars 23 and 24. The bars 23 and 24 are attached to bars 21 and 22 respectively by suitable lugs and extend outwardly therefrom and are attached to the lower flange of channels 25 and 26 respectively, the latter members extending between members 11 and 12 at opposite sides of the base of the motor 13 and assisting" in supporting same. r

The shaft 15 extends downwardly through the center of the aerator head and down leg 23 therefor and is provided at its lower end with an impeller 29 whereby the velocity of the water flowing will be sufiicient to aspirate large quantities of air in finely divided globules which thoroughly intermingle with the water thus permitting a percentage of air'as high as from thirty to forty per cent. I I

The raw water to be aerated is admitted to the chamber 3 through an opening 31 in the lower part of tank 4 connected to a source which may have the same head as the water in the basin 9 and passes around arms 32 into the annular mouth 33 of the aerator or aspirator '1.

The mouth of the aerator l is formed Wlthll'l '8.il 1

annular 'bowl 3.4 at the upper end of the downleg 28. The bowl 34 is wider at its upper end and is bolted to arms 32 which are integral with an annular member 35 and act to support the same concentrically of said bowl.

The member 35 is closed at its upper end by T a cover 36 which is centrally apertured' to receive shaft 15, an oil sleeve 37 surrounding same, and a sleeve 38 the purpose of which will presently appear. The cover-36 is also provided with an offset aperture into which is threaded an air stack 39 which extends above the water level to conduct air into chamber 41 within member 35. The lower end of member 35 is bolted to an inverted tubular cone member 42 which is provided with a conical closure 43, the latter forming near its outer periphery a tube plate 44. Three circular concentric rows of longitudinal parallel air tubes are fastened-to and extend through the plate 44 and the member 42 beyond the conical surface thereof into the mouth 33 at varying lengths for the purpose of dividing the annular Water column entering said mouth into streams that will pass between and surround said tubes and delivering air to said column to be entrained thereby. I

Thus the descending water under velocity streams past the air tubes 45 and aspirates large quantities of air to be intermingled with the water.

A spider 46 supported between bowl 34 and downleg 28 and provided with a hub 4'7 and bronze bushing e8 acts as a bearing for the shaft 15. A second spider 49 supported between the lower end of downleg 28 and an impeller cylinder 7 50 and provided with a hub 51 and bronze bushing 52 also acts as a bearing for said shaft. The wide arms of the spider 49 act as guide vanes for the impeller 29.

Underneath the impeller 29 is a conical defiector 53,which is supported by spacer bolts 54 from the lower flange of pump cylinder 50. This conical deflector will spread the mixture of air and water in all directions horizontally in the basin 9 and in addition will act as a support for the lower end of the impeller shaft.

A base plate 55 is anchored to the bottom of the basin (or on a pillar built up from same).

The base plate 55 is provided with a raised central portion which is apertured and provided with an inward taper near its upper end to easily receive a cylindrical extension 56 on the bottom of deflector 53 and hold the lower end of the apparatus securely against vibration and permit ready removal of same for inspection, renewal or repair without drawing the water from the basin.

The upper portion of impeller shaft 15 is enclosed in sleeve 37 which is screwed into member 18 and hub 47 and the lower portion of said shaft is enclosed in sleeve 56a which is screwed into hubs 47 and 51. An oilcup 57 is provided at the top of the impeller shaftrclose to hearing 17 to supply oil to the annular space between the shaft and sleeves 37 and 55a which is always kept full of oil, the bushings 4:8 and 52 being provided with suitable grooves so that oil willrflow freely down the entire lengthof the shaft until directly above the impeller where a groove 58 is provided in hub 51 which is filled with very heavy water proof grease and a felt ring 59 in an annular recess at the bottom of said hub is provided' to prevent any oil leaking out or water leaking in. V

A removable plate 51 acts to retain the felt ring 59.

The conical closure 13 or liquids from entering ber 42 and to that end box 62 around the central sleeve 38 threaded to the cone 42 and nuts 63 and 64 for tying said cone and member 35 securely together and also prevent leakage of water into said cone or chamber 41.

, The upper flange of downleg 28 is supported on a cylindrical flanged member 65 surrounding an opening 65' in the tank 4 through which the apparatus may be lifted for inspection without drawing the water from the basin.

Inthe use of theapparatus the tank i may be omitted and the apparatus operateddirectly in the basin 9 andthe water in the basin made to pass through the apparatus several times, if desired.

prevents corrosive gases the interior of the memis provided with a packing.

of theaspirator and an oil sleeve tween said bearings.

. It will be apparent that the afore-described apparatus is unitary and self contained and that the complete apparatus, except the base plate 55, may be removed as a unit and replaced for inspection, renewal or repair without draining the basin.

It will also be apparent that the apparatus may be used to mix two or more different liquids, or gases.

I am aware that many changes may be made without departing from the principles of this invention and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown or described.

. I claim: 7

1. In an apparatus of the character described, an aspirator for mixing a pair of fluids, a downleg attached to the aspirator, means for positively causing'flow therethrough against a head of water around the downleg, a support for the aspirator and downleg near the aspirator and a vertically slidable support near the lower end of the downleg normally holding thesame against lateral movement permitting the ready withdrawal of the aspiratcr'and downleg as a unit upon disconnecting thefirst support. v

2. In an apparatus of the character described, an aspirator for mixing a pair of fluids, a downleg attached thereto, a support forthe aspirator and downleg near the aspirator and a vertically slidabl support near the lower end of the downleg normallyholding the sameagainst lateral movement permitting the ready withdrawal of the aspirator and downleg as a unit upon disconnecting the first support.

4. In an apparatus of the character described,

an aspirator including an air receptacle, a water receptacle, an inverted conical member extending into the latter and sealedat its edges to the air receptacle, a central sleeve connecting the latter with the conical member, an impeller and driving means therefor including a drive shaft extending through said sleeve, said shaft being provided with an oil sleeve said first sleeve. V

5. In an apparatus of thecharacter described, an aspirator, a motor from the aspirator, an impeller in the downleg, a drive shaf for the impeller extending through the aspirator and downleg, longitudinally spaced bearings for the drive shaft on either side or" the aspirator and an oil sleeve extending between said earings.

6. In an apparatusof the character described, an aspirator, a motor thereabove, an impeller below the aspirator, a drive shaft for the impeller extending through the aspirator, longitudinally spaced bearings for the drive shaft on either side extending be- I SQREN THURSTENSEN.

also extending through thereabove, a downleg 

